Improvement in attachments for piano-pedals



SIGMUND SCHOENBRUN.

improvement in Attachments for Piano Pedals. NO. 119,184. Patented Sep. t9, 1871.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIGMUND SOHOENBRUN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,184, dated September 19, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIGMUND SOI-IOENBRUN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Piano-Fortes, 850.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which drawing Figure 1 is a front view of this invention. Fig. 2 is a'section of the same on the line ratin Fig. 1.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an attachment to the pedals of pianofortes, rnelodeons, &c.; and consists of a vertical bar extending from the pedal of the piano up to a guide piece which is socurely attached to the bottom of the piano or to its frame, in which guide piece the upper end of said vertical bar slides, the arrangement being such that the degree of motion in the slide shall be equal at least to the utmost possible movement or range of motion of the piano-pedal. The vertical bar straddles the pedal to which it is applied, and it is slotted throughout nearly its whole extent so as to form a slide for a movable foot-piece which can be made stationary thereon by means of a set-screw. The object of this invention is to enable children to operate the pedals of the instrument, which, owing to their short stature, are usually beyond their reach, and the same is accomplished by my invention without interfering with the ordinary use of the pedals by adults. In the present illustration of my invention I have arranged it in front of the lyre or frame which supports the pedal.

A designates a vertical bar arranged at its foot so as to straddle the pedal 13, and said bar, although in contact with the pedal so as to act upon it directly when the bar is depressed, should not rest with all its weight on the pedal, but be held in its proper position on the pedal by a stop, K, which prevents it from sliding back against the lyre. The bar is slotted, as shown at O, to receive a sliding foot-piece, D, fitted to slide up and down in said slot, and provided with a setscrew, E, to clamp the foot-piece to the bar at any desired height thereon. The upper part of the vertical bar A is fitted to slide vertically in guides F, formed on the under side of the piano or within the case, so as to be out of the way of the player; but, in the present instance, said guides are shown attached to the under side of the piano. The top of the vertical bar A, which moves within said guides, is slotted, and works on a pin, G, which is fixed in said guides and extends through the slot, and the arrangement is such as to allow at least as much motion ol" the vertical bar in said guides as shall be allowed to the pedal, or that part of it with which the foot of the vertical bar is in contact. My pedal at tachment is light; but to prevent the depression of the pedal accidentally or by the weight of the attachment, the ordinary spring of the pedal may be made of increased strength; or the rear of the pedal and its connection may be weighted or balanced for that purpose; or said bar may be hung upon a spiral or other spring, as shown in the drawing, so as to keep it from depressing the pedal while pressure is not made on the lootpiece 1). The lower part of the bar is guided by brackets, K, extending from the foot of the lyre. I also apply my invention by means of a wire or other direct connection, extending from the attachment directly to the pedal-board l, or the pedal connecting-rod J, in which case the foot of the vertical bar need not straddle the pedals, but may terminate near the foot of the lyre from which it is guided.

It is obvious that the attachment above de' scribed is so simple that a child can adjust it to its own convenience without assistance, and it is not possible to break it by ordinary usage, or even careless handling. I also construct the guides F and arrange a connection of a vertical bar therewith in such a manner that, when l desire to put the attachment out of the way, 1 can swing the bar upward in a lateral direction and secure its lower end to the bottom of the piano or other musical instrument.

NVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The bar A formed with the slot 0, and having one end working in guides I and the other resting on the treadle B, as described, in combination with the sliding foot-piece D and set-screw E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

This specification signed by me this 3d day of August, 1871.

SIGMUND SOHOENBRUN.

Witnesses:

E. F. KAsTENnunER, WALTER B. \Vnvns. (73.) 

